Tide’s Young heads finalists for Heisman
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud were announced Monday as the finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
The Heisman will be presented Saturday in New York, returning to its usual routine and date after it was forced to delay and go virtual last year because of the pandemic.
After a 2021 season in which a Heisman front-runner took a while to emerge and the race seemed wide-open into November, Young closed strong to become the favorite.
The sophomore led a 97-yard, game-tying touchdown drive against Auburn on Nov. 27, helping the Crimson Tide rally to win the Iron Bowl in overtime.
Young then broke the SEC championship-game record with 421 yards passing in a 41-24 victory against Georgia’s vaunted defense on Saturday. For the season, Young has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns and just four interceptions while guiding the top-ranked Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff.
Hutchinson would be the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. Woodson was also Michigan’s last Heisman winner. Hutchinson is one of the nation’s best pass rushers, with 14 sacks.
Pickett returned to Pitt for a fifth season in 2021, taking advantage of the NCAA’s eligibility give-back for playing through the pandemic in 2020, and had a record-breaking season. Pickett passed for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns to eclipse school marks and led the 13th-ranked Panthers to their first ACC title.
Stroud completed 71% of his passes for 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns and five interceptions as the seventh-ranked Buckeyes finished 10-2 in his first season as a starter.
Cristobal to Miami: Mario Cristobal is leaving Oregon and returning to Miami, accepting an offer to become head coach at his alma mater, where he won two national championships as a player.
He let the Ducks know of the decision Monday, his team meeting in Oregon nearly simultaneous with Miami announcing the firing of head coach Manny Diaz after three seasons. Cristobal and Miami were finalizing terms on a 10-year, $80 million deal, by far the richest the Hurricanes have given a coach.
Norvell hired: Colorado State hired the first Black head coach in program history, bringing in Nevada’s Jay Norvell to replace Steve Addazio. Norvell is coming off a season in which he guided the Wolf Pack to an 8-4 record and a bowl berth.
Cal’s Brooks, Tevis in transfer portal: Cal running back Christopher Brooks and defensive lineman JH Tevis each announced on Twitter that he is entering the transfer portal. Brooks led the Bears in rushing with 607 yards this season and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. He can play one season as a grad transfer. Tevis had 51⁄2 tackles for loss this season as a redshirt junior. He will have two years of eligibility remaining as a grad transfer. — Steve Kroner
Pay for Texas linemen: Every Texas Longhorns offensive lineman on scholarship will get $50,000 annually for use of his name, image and likeness to support charitable causes, a new nonprofit entity announced.
Horns with Heart said “The Pancake Factory” would start in August 2022. The effort is capped at $800,000 annually, which would cover 16 scholarship linemen.